Bessie Coleman

Coleman rose up from a childhood marked by poverty and discrimination to become the first Black female to earn a pilot’s license. Kids can glean many important life lessons by exploring what she did and what she had to do to pursue her goals – like learning French and going to France to earn her license. Future historians will want to know about the racial and gender discrimination Coleman experienced before, during, and after she received her license, including where and how her death was reported in the press.

Aviation buffs will enjoy the images of airplanes from the 1920s. They will also appreciate the authentic advertisements, headlines, and announcements that enrich the journey through Coleman’s life. The numerous quotations about Coleman from newspapers and literature lend veracity and depth to kids’ understandings of her and of the times she lived in. They will also enjoy exploring Coleman’s legacy through the actual words and deeds of present-day Black female pilots and flight instructors, including Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space.